(Credit iStock) Source: Les Echos, Energo revolutionizes biogas and green chemistry production
With nearly 162 agricultural biogas plants in operation, the Hauts-de-France region ranks among the most dynamic in France. Of these, 92 inject biomethane into the grid, while 70 generate electricity through cogeneration. Yet key challenges remain: What to do with the CO₂ released during methanization, usually vented into the atmosphere? How to manage end-of-contract cogeneration units? And how can new projects thrive in rural areas far from the gas network?
This is where Energo comes in. For the first time in France, the startup has developed a solution to transform raw biogas directly at the digester outlet into methanol — a strategic molecule for green chemistry, industry, and sustainable fuels. Based in Saint-Crépin-Ibouvillers (Oise), the pioneering project was launched in partnership with the Chemin du Roi biogas plant and its director, farmer Grégoire Omont. It marks a major milestone for Energo, paving the way for broader deployment of its technology across the country.
Energo: Building Local Energy Ecosystems for the Transition
Founded in Loos and now employing 20 people split between Lille and Lyon, Energo has been developing its breakthrough technology since 2018, drawing on research from Chimie ParisTech. After raising nearly €17 million in 2024, the scale-up is now rolling out its first industrial units, starting with Saint-Crépin-Ibouvillers.
The process is based on plasma catalysis, which merges two proven approaches:
Schematic representation of the conversion of biogas into methanol using Energo technology and its applications
- Cold plasma: activates gas molecules such as CO₂ at low temperature, without the need for extreme heat or pressure.
- Heterogeneous catalysis: a long-established chemistry technique, widely used in refining, that steers molecules toward a desired transformation.
Combined in a single reactor, these two technologies can efficiently convert gases like CO₂, raw biogas, methane, or syngas into molecules of interest — including methane, methanol, or hydrogen — sometimes achieving transformations that conventional methods cannot.
Compact, modular, and low-energy, the innovation enables decentralized decarbonization, producing low-carbon molecules locally, close to resources and end uses. But as with any cleantech startup, the challenge is clear: scale fast, prove reliability, and deploy quickly enough to stay ahead.
A First Unit Born from Partnership Between Technology and Agriculture
Energo’s modular design makes it easy to integrate into existing infrastructure, with the flexibility to add extra reactors as needed. The missing piece was a partner ready to host the first industrial unit. Thanks to Bioeconomy For Change, Energo was connected with Chemin du Roi, a collective of five farmers already ahead of the curve with biomethane injection since 2021. Their openness to innovation made them the ideal match.
The Energo unit plugs seamlessly into the biogas plant without disrupting its core activity. From the outset, the startup chose to shoulder all financial risk, ensuring farmers’ profitability would remain untouched.
Over 2,500 tonnes of methanol will be produced each year. This project, the first of its kind in France, represents a strategic milestone for Energo, which is already building on the successful experience of its demonstrator in Loos. The next steps will be to rapidly achieve stable production, secure supply contracts with offtakers[1] (discussions have already been initiated with several players), and continue to rely on the regional ecosystem and the support mechanisms that are essential for ramp-up. At the same time, Energo is ensuring that its project is anchored in the long term: farmers from Chemin du Roi will be trained to monitor the unit, while the start-up’s team will provide ongoing support, both remotely and on-site, to guarantee the plant’s performance and maintenance. Energo already benefits from financial support, notably through the FEDER program and the Rev3 regional initiative led by the Hauts-de-France region, as well as support from Bpifrance, Banque Publique d’Investissement.
Offtaker: a company (or sometimes a consortium) that signs an offtake agreement with the producer to secure a specific volume of production, often over several years. These contracts are essential in the energy and biofuels sectors, as they guarantee the producer a stable commercial outlet and, in return, provide the buyer with a secure supply.
Energo demonstrator Credit: Energo
Methanol: A Strategic Molecule with Global Demand
Methanol is already a cornerstone of global chemistry, with over 100 million tonnes consumed each year for plastics, solvents, PVC, and silicones. It is also essential to biodiesel production — a key industry in Hauts-de-France. Yet today, 100% of methanol used in France is imported and fossil-based. Producing renewable biomethanol locally is therefore a major issue for industrial sovereignty and decarbonization.
Demand is expected to surge in the years ahead. Methanol is emerging as a decarbonization pathway for shipping and as a feedstock for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). This creates opportunities for regions capable of developing local value chains.
Bright Prospects for Energo and Hauts-de-France
By converting raw biogas into liquid form, Energo’s technology lays the foundation for a regional ecosystem of decarbonized production — with potential well beyond Hauts-de-France. It opens new avenues for local supply of strategic molecules and for biogas projects in off-grid areas.
Energo also plans to set up a reactor manufacturing plant in Hauts-de-France, creating jobs in production, installation, and maintenance. The company continues to expand its portfolio, exploring hydrogen production, off-gas valorization, and filing patents for future applications. Longer term, the technology could enable large-scale projects, such as sustainable kerosene production for Lille-Lesquin and Beauvais-Tillé airports.
Conclusion
The Energo–Chemin du Roi initiative showcases what the regional bioeconomy can deliver in terms of innovation and energy transition. A French first, it combines cutting-edge science with agricultural entrepreneurship to unlock a new way of valorizing biogas. It is also another demonstration of Hauts-de-France’s vitality in supporting bioeconomy-driven solutions for the transition.
This article draws on insights from Marion Guillevic, Energo’s Business Development Director, and Grégoire Omont, farmer and head of the Chemin du Roi biogas unit.
Voices from the Field
“Projects like ours need the backing of local authorities and regions to make innovation happen. We often face constraints because we fall outside existing frameworks. I’d like to see this pathway — producing liquid biofuels from biogas — better integrated into strategic roadmaps. In some territories, biogas cannot be injected as biomethane: our solution offers a real alternative, but it needs support. We’re also seeking new industrial partners interested in producing or consuming sustainable methanol locally.” Marion Guillevic, Director of Business Development at Energo